Right now, even despite the stupidity of Pacers reserve guard Lance Stephenson putting his hands around his neck like he was choking in reference to James (an incident he later apologized for), it does seem as if nothing is going to jump start this Heat team. Yogi Berra said "It ain't over until it's over," but it sure feels like it's over for Miami going into game 4.
So you can blame James all you want, and when he looks in the mirror he must blame himself too. Can you imagine if he had stayed in Cleveland and eventually won a championship there? The word "legend" would have been legitimately attached to him forever, even if the Cavaliers never won another championship. Now in Miami it is another thing entirely; if he doesn't win there, he looks like the biggest loser, but so does Riley for not doing more to give James a shot at it all.
In the end it will be James standing in front of the mirror, staring at himself, and mumbling the Marlon Brando line from On the Waterfront: "I coulda been a contender." Maybe in Cleveland, but in Miami, he is looking like just another guy who couldn't win. Yes, the heat is on him and for now he is wilting.
Photo credit: nba.com
Article comments